Pope Alexander III

Alexander III was a leader of a big church.

He was born in a place called Siena. He became the leader in the year 1159.

Many people fought over who should lead. Some leaders did not like him. Because of this, he had to live away from Rome.

He helped make new rules for the church. He also named ten people as saints. One was a man named Thomas Becket.

He helped a land called Portugal. He said they could be a kingdom. This was a big step for them.

He led the church for a very long time. He died in the year 1181.

He was a very famous leader.

Alexander III was a leader of the Catholic Church.

He was born in Siena. He became pope in 1159. His time as leader lasted a very long time. It lasted almost twenty-two years.

His start was not easy. Some people chose a different leader. They called this person an antipope.

Because of these fights, Alexander had to live outside of Rome. He moved to many safe places. He even wept when his rival died. He did not want to celebrate a rival's death.

Alexander did many important things. He helped the people of Portugal. He said they could be a real kingdom.

He also helped the church in new lands. He looked after church work near the Baltic Sea. He named ten people as saints. One was Thomas Becket.

He held a big meeting called a council. This meeting helped make new rules. One rule said two-thirds of the leaders must vote for a new pope. Alexander died in 1181.

He is buried in Rome.

Pope Alexander III was a major leader of the Catholic Church.

He was born in Siena around the years 1100 or 1105. His real name was Rolando. He became the pope on 7 September 1159. This was a very long time for one leader. He stayed in this role for almost twenty-two years. He died on 30 August 1181. His long leadership is one of the longest in history.

His start as pope was very difficult. A group of cardinals chose a different man named Victor IV. This rival was called an antipope. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I supported Victor IV. Because of these fights, Alexander could not stay in Rome. He had to live in many safe places. He stayed in towns like Anagni, Palestrina, and Veroli. He even wept when his rival, Victor IV, died in 1164.

Alexander worked to help the church in many new ways.

He was the first pope to focus on missions near the Baltic Sea. In 1164, he created a new archbishop area in Sweden. He also looked after the church in Finland in 1171. He helped the people of Portugal become a recognized kingdom. He did this through a document called Manifestis Probatum. This was a big step for the country of Portugal.

He also made important rules for the church.

Alexander held a huge meeting called the Third Council of the Lateran. This meeting was one of the most important church councils of the middle ages. One new rule said two-thirds of the cardinals must vote for a pope. This rule was meant to make things better for the church. He also named ten people as saints. These included Bernard of Clairvaux and Thomas Becket.

Alexander's life shows how much power and struggle leaders faced.

He dealt with kings, emperors, and even different religious leaders. He had to move between many strongholds to stay safe. Eventually, he returned to Rome in 1178. He is buried in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. His life was filled with many big changes for the world around him.

Pope Alexander III was a central figure in the medieval Catholic Church.

Born Rolando in Siena around 1100 or 1105, he led the Church for nearly twenty-two years. His reign began on 7 September 1159 and lasted until his death on 30 August 1181. This was one of the longest papacies in history. He served as both the head of the Catholic Church and the ruler of the Papal States. His life was defined by intense political struggles and significant religious reforms.

His rise to power was marked by a major religious conflict called a schism. After Pope Adrian IV died in 1159, Rolando was elected as Alexander III. However, a minority of cardinals elected a rival named Octavian. This rival took the name Victor IV and became known as an antipope. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa supported Victor IV against Alexander. This disagreement forced Alexander to live outside of Rome for much of his leadership.

Alexander faced several specific challenges during this period of dispute. In 1160, Emperor Frederick summoned both leaders to a council in Pavia. Alexander refused to attend, arguing that a pope could only be judged by God. The council recognized Victor IV as the true pope and excommunicated Alexander. In response, Alexander excommunicated both Victor IV and Emperor Frederick. This cycle of political and religious tension lasted until 1177, when Frederick finally recognized Alexander at the Peace of Venice.

Because of imperial strength in Italy, Alexander often lived as a fugitive.

He moved between several strongholds to remain safe from his rivals. These locations included Anagni, Palestrina, Ferentino, Tusculum, and Veroli. He was once arrested by supporters of the antipope but was freed by Oddone Frangipane. Alexander finally returned to Rome on 12 March 1178. Even after his return, he faced new challenges from local nobles in the Roman Republic.

Alexander III was also a leader who focused on expanding the Church's reach. He was the first pope to pay direct attention to missionary work east of the Baltic Sea. In 1164, he established the Archbishopric of Uppsala in Sweden. He also addressed the situation of the Church in Finland in 1171. Through a papal bull, he gave sanction to crusades in northern Europe. He also helped the independence of Portugal by recognizing Afonso Henriques as king through the document *Manifestis Probatum*.

To improve the Church, Alexander organized important legislative meetings. He held the Council of Tours in 1163 to address issues like clerical usury and the unlawful division of church property. Most notably, he held the Third Council of the Lateran in 1179. This was one of the most important medieval church councils. One major rule established there required a two-thirds majority of cardinals to elect a new pope. This rule was designed to prevent the kind of disputed elections Alexander had faced.

Throughout his career, Alexander interacted with many powerful historical figures. He dealt with Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, who offered to end the East-West Schism. Alexander rejected the offer because he feared Byzantine domination of Italy. He also had a complex relationship with King Henry II of England. Although he humbled Henry for the murder of Thomas Becket, he later canonized Becket as a saint. Alexander also elevated 68 cardinals during his long service to the Church.

Alexander III left a lasting legacy through his religious and political actions.

He canonized ten saints, including Bernard of Clairvaux and Edward the Confessor. His long reign helped shape the structure of the papacy for centuries. He died at Civita Castellana in 1181. He is buried in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome.